California allows some with historic water rights to pump again

Dozens of California farmers and water agencies that were told to stop drawing river water in June, even though they had what are known as senior water rights, have been allowed to resume pumping.

The State Water Resources Control Board on Friday lifted the unprecedented drought restrictions targeting those with water rights staked between 1903 and 1914 in the Sacramento River watershed and the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta.

The restrictions were particularly notable because water rights holders with claims before 1914, when the state began regulating water use, were widely believed to be immune to cutbacks.

The restrictions were lifted Friday because new information on water use collected from rights holders showed that demand was dropping and supplies could go further, according to state water board officials.